Aerial fireworks



Sef'pt. 15, 1925. 1,554,065

v R. s. BLAIR AERIAL FIREWORKS Original Fild Feb. 23, 1916 used in itsbroadest sense. These jets 8,

Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT S. BLAIR, OF SOUND BEACH, CONNECTICUT.

, W I AERIAL FIREWORKS.

Application filed February 23, 1916, Serial N'o. 79,903. Renewed July 6,1928.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, ROBERT S. BLAIR, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Sound Beach, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AerialFireworks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aerial devices, and with regard to the morespecific features thereof, to aerial fireworks. One of .the objectsthereof is to provide a practical aerial device of simple constructionand eflicient and reliable action. Another object is to provide afirework of unique appearance, which shall be visible over a wide range.Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the structure hereinafter described and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the variouspossible embodiments of this invention:

4 at their outer ends are mounted the devices 5. These devices arepositioned tangentially with respect to the axis of the propeller, andare each formed of an outer tube 6, provided with a suitableslow-burning fillmg, such as for example that of rockets or pin-wheels.The devices 5 are placed with their discharge ends 7 facing in oppositedirections, and tend to throw outwardly the jet of burning gas 8, the.latter term being v being oppositely faced. and mounted, as

shown, would, by their-reaction upon the air tend to rotate thepropeller 1, about its axis, and the vanes or blades 4 are so inclinedwith respect to the direction of these ets that the rotation occasionedby the latter would have a lifting tendency. The two devices 5 arepreferably connected by fuse portions 9, which join at the point 10, atwhich they may be ignited, thus resulting in the simultaneous action ofboth jets 8. The latter feature tends to insure a purely rotary movementto the propeller, although j a single one of these devices might beused, especlally upon the outer ends'of the fans. The use of a pluralityof simultaneously and oppositely directed jets is, however, highlyadvantageous.

Also mounted for rotary movement upon the pin 2 and held in place as bythe cap 11, is an upper propeller 12, intended to rotate in an oppositedirection with respect to the propeller 1, and having its vanes 13inclined in an opposite direction so that this propeller as rotated willalso have a lifting effect. Upon each propeller blade 13 is a downwardlydirected lug 14, which is so positioned as to be exposed to the jets 8.These lugs follow substantially the dotted line 15, in Fig. 3 of thedrawings, slightly further from the axis than the fire tube 5, but dueto the tangential direction of the jets they are exposed thereto, andare so disposed, as

indicated by the dotted lines '16, as to be struck squarely by theheated gas and get the full reaction therefrom. The upper propeller 12is thus forcibly rotated, and the lower propeller 4 gets an increasedforce of rotation, due to the resistance of the lugs 14, against whichthe jets impinge.

The lower end of the stick 3 is preferably provided with a guiding vane17, and there may be mounted upon the stick below the propellers arocket tube, 18, throwing its jet 19 downwardly for the purpose ofgiving the device a strong upward movement in starting. This rocket tubeneed not be of large size, and its fuse 20 may be connected as shownupwardly to the point 10, so that 160 1 the entire device may be lightedat a single point. v p

The pitch or inclination of the vanes 4 is.

preferably sharper than that of the vanes 13. The propellers may, ifdesired, be made of thin sheet aluminum, and the stick?) may be of woodand of sufficient length tov tend to hold itself in a vertical positionwhen the device is in use.

In the use of the device it is ignited 8.15.

the lower end or 13116 rocket tube, if the latter be employed, orotherwise at the point 10. The fire travels quickly through the fuseportion 9, to the devices 5, and the latter act simultaneously to rotatethe propeller L at high speed in one direction, and by the reaction ofthe jets, to rotate the upper propeller in the opposite direction. Bothpropellers thus exert a strong lifting effect, and the entire devicerises, its initial movement being expedited if the small rocket tube isemployed. The devices 5, being efficiently used, act for a considerabletime, and the device not only rises to a great height, but remains aloftfor a considerable period. The rotating jets have a striking appearance,and the devices are suited as a firework, the latter term, of course,being broadly used and including signal rockets.

The fuse 20 may be extended downwardlyif desired, as at 21, andterminate in some supplementary form of fireworks at 22, which isignited after the device has ascended.

It will thus be seen that there is provided apparatus in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention andas the above embodiments might be altered in various particulars,without departing from the scope of this invention, it is intended thatall matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawing shallbe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described this invention, I claim 1. In an aerial device, incombination, a member mounted for rotation and comprising a propellerblade, a device comprising a combustible charge adapted upon said chargeburning to project a jet of gas and means mounting said device andconnected with said member adapted to utilize the reaction from said jetto rotate said first member.

2. In an aerial device, in combination, a member mounted for rotationand comprising a propeller blade, a pair of devices, each comprising acombustible charge and each adapted upon said charge burning to projecta jet of gas, means mounting said device to project said jets indifferent directions, and connecting said devices with said propeller,to utilize the reaction from both of said jets in rotating said member.

3. In an aerial device, in combination, a member mounted for rotationand comprising a propeller blade, a pair of devices each comprising acombustible charge and each adapted upon said charge burning to projecta jet of gas, means mounting said device to project said jets indifferent directions and connecting said deviceswith said propeller toutilize the reaction from both of said jets in rotating said member, andmeans adapted to ignite said devices substantially simultaneously.

4:. In an aerial device, in combination, a

pair of independently rotatable members coaxially mounted for rotationon a common support, and a combustible charge mounted upon one of saidmembers and adapted upon burning to rotate said two members in oppositedirections by discharging gases in a non-radial direction and againstparts of the other of said members.

5. In an aerial device, in combination, a member mounted for rotationand comprising a propeller blade, adevice comprising a combustiblecharge adapted upon said charge burning to project a jet of gas, meansmounting said device and connected with said member adapted to utilizethe reaction from said jet to rotate said first member, and a dependingmember connected with said first member, and adapted to tend to hold thesame in a horizontal plane of rotation.

6. In an aerial device, in combination, a member mounted for rotationand comprising a propeller blade, a pair of devices, each comprising acombustible charge and each mounted upon, said device to project saidjets in different directions and connecting said devices with saidpropeller to utilize the reaction from both of said jets in rotatingsaid member, means adapted to ignite said devices substantiallysimultaneously, and a depending member arranged substantially in theaxis of said member and of substantially rigid construction adapted totend to hold horizontal the plane of rotation of said first member. w

7. In an aerial device, in combination, a pair of superposed propellers,the blades of which are oppositely inclined, and means mounted to rotatewith one of said propellers, and to rotate the other in the oppositedirection by its reaction against the same.

8. In an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device mounted forrotation about a substantially vertical \axis, combustible means mountedthereon adapted upon burning to discharge substantially tangentially androtate said device by its reaction, combustible means adapted uponburning to discharge downwardly and propel said device upwardly throughthe air, combustible means independent of said last two means adapted toburn While said device is in the air, and means adapted to ignite saidlast combustible means after the device has ascended.

9. In an aerial device, in combination, a pair of propellers the'bladesof which are oppositely inclined and one of which is provided with aseries of projecting parts, and a device mounted to rotate with theother of said propellers and adapted to project a jet of gas against theprojecting parts of the first propeller and tend to rotate by itsreaction the two propellers in opposite directions.

10. In an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device having partsextending outwardly substantially laterally from the axis thereof andadapted to rotate about a vertical axis, a plurality of substantiallyhorizontal tubes having combustible charges mounted adjacent the outerends of said lateral parts and adapted upon burning to dischargesubstantially tangentially and by reaction to rotate said device, and adownwardly directed rocket tube having a combustible charge independentof the charges of said first tubes and adapted upon burning by itsreaction to tend to propel said device upwardly.

11. In an aerial device, in combination, a pair of propellers, theblades of which are oppositely inclined, and means mounted to rotatewith one of said propellers and to rotate the other in the oppositedirection by its reaction against the same, said means comprising adevice having a combustible charge adapted upon said charge burning toproject a jet of gas against parts connected with the other propeller,said propellers being mounted to rotate about a common axis.

12.111 an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device having aplurality of parts extending outwardly substantially laterally and in asubstantially radial direction from the axis thereof and provided with acentral bearing for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality ofsubstantially horizontal tubes mounted adjacent the outer ends of saidradial parts and provided with combustible charges adapted upon burningto discharge substantially tangentially and by reaction to rotatesaiddevice about said axis, and downwardly directed rocket meansextending below the plane of rotation of said rotatable device andindependent of said tubes having a combustible charge adapted uponburning to tend to propel said device upwardly by its reaction.

13. In an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device having partsextending outwardly substantially laterally from the axis thereof andadapted to rotate about a vertical axis, a plurality of substantiallyhorizontal tubes having combustible charges mounted adjacent the outerends of said lateral parts and adapted upon burning to dischargesubstantially tangentially and by reaction to rotate said device, adownwardly directed rocket tube having a combustible charge independentof the charges of said first tubes and adapted upon burning by itsreaction to tend to propel said device upwardly, combustible meansadapted to burn while said device is in the air, and means adapted toignite said last combustible means after the device has ascended.

14. In an aerial device, in combination, a f

central supporting member, supporting means carried by said member andextending substantially transversely thereof, a combustible charge uponsaid supporting means adapted upon burning to discharge at a pointspaced outwardly from said supporting member and in a direction torotate said supporting means by its reaction, and a second combustiblecharge positioned to discharge downwardly and adapted upon burning topropel said supporting member upwardly.

15. In an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device, acombustible charge connected thereto and adapted upon burnmg to rotatesaid device by its reaction, and means connected withsaid device anddependingcent the outer ends of said parts adapted upon burning todischarge substantially tangentially and by its reaction to rotate saiddevice, and combustible means independent of said first means adaptedupon burning by its reaction to propel said device upwardly.

17. In an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device, acombustible charge 0- sitioned thereon and adapted upon burmng to rotatesaid device and propel it. upwardly and a second combustible chargeconnected to said device adapted upon burning to discharge downwardly topropel said device upwardly through the air by its reaction.

18. In an aerial device, in combination, a rotatable device, combustiblemeans thereon adapted upon burning to discharge substantiallytangentially and rotate said device by its reaction, means adapted topropel said device upwardly through the air, and combustible meansindependent of said last two means adapted to burn while said device isin the air.

19. In an aerial device, in combination, a

pair of independently rotatable members and a combustible chargeconnected with one of said members and adapted upon burning to rotatesaid two members in opposite directions.

20. In an aerial device, in combination, a'

pair of independently rotatable members mounted upon a common supportand] a 21. In an aerial device, in combination, a said support adaptedupon burning to dissupporting member, a propeller rotatably chargedownwardly and assist said propeller mounted thereon, and a combustiblecharge in raising said support. 10 mounted upon said propeller adaptedupon Signed at South Orange, in the county of burning to rotate saidpropeller by its reac- Essex and State of New Jersey, this 12th tion andthereby raise said support, and a ay Of a y 19 6- seoond combustiblemeans mounted upon ROBERT SQ BLAIR.

